Back-to-school shopping: How much will you spend?

View full sizeThe National Retail Federation expects families with school-aged children to spend less on average on apparel, shoes, electronics and school supplies this year than last year. File | MLive.com

SAGINAW, MI — The National Retail Federation expects families with school-age children to spend less on apparel, shoes, school supplies and electronics during back-to-school shopping this year than last year.

According to the National Retail Federation's 2013 Back-to-School Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics, families with school-age children will spend an average of $634.78 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics, down from $688.62 last year.

Have you started back-to-school shopping? Will you spend more, less or the same compared to last year? Tell us in the comments section below and take our poll.

“The good news is that consumers are spending, but they are doing so with cost and practicality in mind,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release.

“Having splurged on their growing children’s needs last year, parents will ask their kids to reuse what they can for the upcoming school season. As they continue to grapple with the impact of increased payroll taxes, Americans will look to cut corners where they can but will buy what their kids need. It’s important to note, however, that spending levels are still well above where they were a few years ago.”